I am in desperate need to get my child to sleep in her own room in her own bed. I feel like I have tried everything. She shares a room with her sister and I tried putting their beds together and having them sleep together hoping she would be comfortable being next to her, but that one was a failure. She still screams her head off to sleep in my bed and seems to afraid to sleep without me. Any suggestions?

It sounds like she has 'won' several attempts to modify her behavior. You need to talk to her about sleeping in her own bed and be firm, not mean. She will probably try to move in with her sister when she sees that you are serious. Start a new bedtime routine: brush teeth, read story, & go to bed. Her bed.

You can try moving her into her own room once she has gone to sleep. My son was the same when he was little not wanting to sleep in his own room. I did this to him and he would wake up a bit confused but otherwise no harm done. It may prove a bit scary at first for her, but she just may be the kind of kid who sleeps all night very soundly (as did my son).

Do the bedtime routine thing and maybe include reading her a story while she is lying in bed, with a minimum of light on, by the way. Kiss her goodnight, adjust her covers, turn off the light, and leave. If she gets up, return her to her bed. Keep putting her back into her bed every time she gets up. Yes, you will suffer for a couple of nights, and she will vehemently object, but be consistent. Don't give in.

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Originally Posted by kayteeb2

I am in desperate need to get my child to sleep in her own room in her own bed. I feel like I have tried everything. She shares a room with her sister and I tried putting their beds together and having them sleep together hoping she would be comfortable being next to her, but that one was a failure. She still screams her head off to sleep in my bed and seems to afraid to sleep without me. Any suggestions?

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Try a slow approach I had the same thing with my son. Try sleeping in her bed withher for a night then the next sit beside the bed and hold her hand until she's asleep do this for 1 week then slowly week by week sit closer and closer towards the door it is very tiring and takes a while but eventually she will come round

The problem grew worst because in past attempts, the child was allowed to win.
So they don't want to, so they cry and yell so. ** so what**
They yell and cry, you all lose a night or two sleep and then they learn that they have to and then they will.

I know it's a bit barbaric, but how do you overcome your fears?! You face them.

Put her in her room. And if she screams and its ignored.. she'll accept it.

Who's the mum here?

As a parent myself I know it's hard to try and ignore your child's screaming and crying as you feel that they are distressed. It is only natural to want to comfort them but in this case it means that you are giving in to the child's demands.

You need to be persistent - and a bit hard.

Do the bedtime routine and put her in her own bed.
When she cries, ignore her.
If she climbs out of her bed and comes into your room, put her back in her own bed. Keep doing this and she will get the message that she can't win by screaming.